The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-19
He Favors the Suggestion. However, and So
Do Majority of the COuncilmen, but They
Are Timid About Doing Anything.
The Mayor Urges Provision for the Mat
ter in the New Water Contract.
The Street Railway Company Instructed to
Make Several Small Improvements in It's
Service-Street Improvement.

evening, the Mayor spoke at some length on the
suggestion that the streets should be sprinkled
by the city. II suppose, ne said. "the i'm
portance Of the devising of some system Of street
sprink!ing has impressed all of you as it has the
general public during the past dry SPELL Indi-
viduals and communities are frequently com
PEELED to endure unpleasant things because no
practicable remedy can be devised. This seems
to be the situation in the present instance. The
plan suggested by some of the daily papers, to
have the streets sprinkled by the members of
the fire department., with hose attached to the
fre-plugs is not only impracticable but it is inn
possible felt reasonably sure of this before
consulting anyone. The chief fire engineer and
various members of the department whom have
seen, assured me, without dissent that my first
Impressions on this subject were correct.
Mr. Webster says that even if the city
had the necessary quantity of hose and
water it would require four times as many men
as the department now has to sprinkle only those
streets along which water mains are laid. And
IL this should be ATTEMPTED it would be at the
the hazard of CONGREGATIONS. 1t would practi-
caliy render the department useless as protec-
ton against fire. After carefully considering
feel, as do, deep interest in this matter, I am
unable to suggest any remedy that can be putin
general immediate use. The sprinkling cart
system is in any aspect Of the case the only
remedy on streets where water mains have not
been laid. Lawn sprinklers can be utilized
along the streets where city water has been
carried, but there is law authorizing
the Council to require residents to EN-.
ploy cart sprinklers. Neither is there any law
permitting the city TO do the work by contract,
making the cost thereof charge against the
individuals or upon the aouttng property.
prepared a bill covering this subject, and had it
presented to both branches of the General As
sembly of 1885, and it met with favor
either. If you can devise means by which the
city can afford to do the work by contract, pay
ing the cost out of the general treasury, l sup
pose q sufficient number of carts could be Sc
cured by the middle of summer to at least
sprinkle those streets most travelled. The city
or the contractors would be compelled, sup
pose, to buy water with which to do the work
from the water company AS to how much the
necessary quantity would cost. have no kind of
Information. have not consulted with the off,
Gals of the company on this subject, because
i had intended to recommend at this meeting,
when the question was first ae:tated. that the
committee on water take immediate steps to-
ward securing new contract with that compa-
ny for the future city supply, and this new feat
Council and the company in connection with the
other. may be permitted to add before leav-
ing this question of street sprinklng, that the
committee, in comforting with the officials of the
water company, should induce them to adopt
such rules and prices for future consumption in
residences, and for lawn and street-sprinkling
connections, as to enable the poorer classes of
our citizens to take its water The dust problem
would very soon be practically settled on many
streets where now the nuisance is almost
unbearable II the rules of the company and
the prices charged to private consumers cannot
be so fixed as to induce our people to take the
water, at least one-half of the intended utility
to the city is lost. And il / may be allowed to
express an opinion, would add that large per
cent of the company's profits are lost to it for
the same reason l know of no law requiring
the streetcar company to sprinkle the streets
on which it's tracks are laid, and as l am unable
to now suggest any practical mode of giving
general relief this dust question. beg to
urge that you will refer the whole subject mat
ter to an appropriate committee, to which the
city attorney shall be added, instructing them
TO fully consider the matter and report. if posi-
BILE, some plan of relief at your next meeting
Il s.As you all know" continued the Mayor, 1.-The
last contract made with the Indianapolis Water
Company for the city water supply expired last
September. Since then water has been fur
nshed at the same price as before by virtue Of
. clause in the contract of 1881, which carries
the old one over until a new one shall have been
executed. The committee having this matter in
charge last fall postponed its further considera-
ton until tho adjournment of the Legislature,
thinking that some financial relief to the city
might be provided during its session.
You all know the result. In view
OF the present condition OF the city's
finances and the recent recommendations of the
finance committee as TO the present high ex-
+ penditures, suggested that immediate steps be
taken by the water committee to secure con-
tract with the company that will lessen the cost
of water to the city. at least as much as the per
cent OF the cut made in our tax assessment last
year do not believe any long-term contract
should be seriously considered by the CITY, I'M
less such concessions are made by the company
as will fully justify you on that account in so
doing"
Mr.. Thaman moved that the recommendation
be referred to the committees on water and fire,
and that they be requested to confer with Chief
~ Webster as TO the practicability of shrinking
the streets from fire plugs under his direction,
and what additional expense would be necessary
and what portion of the city could be so
sprinkled; also. that che city attorney be re-
quested to report whether Council has the power
to create and enforce an ordinance compelling
residents on streets to sprinkle the same and pay
prorata per front foot when a majority petition
for the sprnkling On motion of Mr.. Pearson.
the Mayors communication and Mr. Thalman's
motion were both referred to fire committee and
CITY attorney.
City Attorney TAYLOR reported, in communi-
cation in answer to the petition of James H.
Rouse and others, asking that an ordinance be
drafted that will prevent the solicitation of pat
ronage the sidewalk in front of business
houses on Illinois street, that, on examination
he found sufficient authority In existing ordi-
nances to prevent the nuisance complained of
and that the superintendent of the Metropolitan
police force has given assurance that he will
strictly enforce these provisions.
The Mayor reported fines and fees paid into the
treasury for March amounting to 1889 o.
communication was received from " T.
Malott, vice-presideEt OF the Union Railway
Company. regrettng that the Union Railway
Company could not comply with the resolution
passed by the Council regarding the tunnel, and
that the company must decline to contract for
the completing of the tunnel, or TO undertake to
build it.
Mr. Thalman introduced a resolution. that
when the Union Railway Company shall have
in writing duly approved, the plans and speci-
fcations for the tunnel. drawn by The city
civil engineer, that that official shall invite pro-
posals to construct the same under his own d
rection on behalf of the city. the total cost
thereof, together with incidental expenses not
to be in excess of 100000. The resolution
passed Yeas--Messrs Burns. Coy, DELL Dunn.
Haugh, Herig, Mack Mackey. McClelland.
McGroarty. Newland. Rocker, Smither, Thai
man and Waterman-l5. Nays-Messrs Cum
mings, Edenharter. Reinecke, Reynolds, Stuck
mey err and SWAMI
Mr. Thalman introduced ordinance, &C.
companied by petition from a committee rep
resenting the property holders along the pro-
posed line or improvement, providing for re-
grading and paving with Medina sandstone
the roadway. and curling with stone the cutters
OF Washington street from the east line oil
Mississippi street TO the west line of Alabama